Teaching code

4S012550

Academic staff

Giovanni Gotte, Sofia Giovanna Mariotto

Credits

5

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

BIO/10 - BIOCHEMISTRY

Period

1° semestre dal Oct 2, 2024 al Dec 20, 2024.

Location

VERONA

Courses Single

Not Authorized

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

To show the organization of the course that includes this module, follow this link:  Course organization

Program

• Composition of Matter: elements, compounds, and mixtures. Atomic weight and molecular weight. Mole.
• Atomic Structure: structure of the atom according to classical and wave mechanics. Atomic models: the significance of Schrödinger's equation and the concept of orbitals. Correlation between quantum numbers and orbitals: Pauli's exclusion principle and Hund's rule. Electronic configuration. Isotopes and nuclear decay.
• Periodic Table and Its Properties: periodic table and electronic structure. Atomic radius, electron affinity, and ionization energy.
• Chemical Bonds: ionic bond, covalent bond (homonuclear and heteronuclear). Lewis structures and the octet rule and its exceptions. Electronegativity. Empirical, molecular, and structural formulas. Resonance. VSEPR teory. Polar and non-polar molecules. Orbitals and bonds: sigma (σ) bond and pi (π) bond. Carbon orbital hybridization and resonance. Properties of ionic and covalent compounds.
• Intermolecular Bonds: van der Waals forces, dispersion forces, and repulsion forces. Ionic strength. Hydrogen bond.
• States of Matter: real and ideal gases. Gas state equation. Partial pressures and Dalton's law. Liquid state: surface tension and vapor pressure. Solid state: amorphous and crystalline solids. Phase transitions.
• Chemical Reactions: reactivity of chemical compounds. Stoichiometric equation and balancing. Limiting reagent and reaction yield. Stoichiometric calculations.
• Chemical Equilibrium: concept of reversibility, law of mass action, and equilibrium constant. Le Chatelier's principle. Factors affecting chemical equilibrium.Eterogeneus equilibrium and Kps. Exercises.
• Thermodynamics: system and surroundings, the concept of heat and energy, the first law of thermodynamics, heat, work, internal energy, and enthalpy. Exothermic and endothermic reactions, enthalpy, standard enthalpy, standard enthalpy of formation. Second law of thermodynamics and entropy. Free energy and spontaneity of a chemical reaction. Standard free energy of reaction, free energy, and equilibrium. Exercises
• Reaction Kinetics: collision theory. Concentration and reaction rate, kinetic equation, activation energy. Reaction order: introduction.
• Solutions: gaseous and liquid solutions. Solubility. Influence of pressure and temperature on solubility. Henry's law. Expression of concentration. Colligative properties: vapor pressure lowering, boiling point elevation, and freezing point depression. Osmosis and osmolarity. Exercises.
• Acids and Bases: acids and bases according to Arrhenius, Brønsted-Lowry, and Lewis: concept of electrophile and nucleophile. Acid-base reaction and equilibrium constant (Ka and Kb). Strength of acids and bases. Water's ion product and pH definition.
• Ionic Equilibria in Aqueous Solutions: pH of strong and weak acid and base solutions. Hydrolysis reactions and pH of saline solutions. Buffer solutions and the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. Physiological buffers. Exercises.
• Electrochemistry: Redox reactions: half-reactions and balancing. Galvanic cells, potential, and standard potentials. Faraday's constant. Standard potentials and equilibrium constants, Nernst equation. Electrolysis. Exercises.
• Aliphatic Hydrocarbons: alkanes and cycloalkanes, alkenes, and alkynes. IUPAC nomenclature rules. Oxidation of hydrocarbons. Addition reaction of alkenes. Markovnikov's rule.
• Stereoisomerism: conformational isomerism; structural isomerism; cis-trans isomerism. Optical isomerism and enantiomers: d,l configuration with Fischer projections. Absolute R,S configuration.
• Benzene and Aromatic Compounds: structures and resonance. Substitution reactions.
• Functional Groups and Their Nomenclature: organic compounds with heteroatoms, N, O, P, S, or halogens. Alcohols and thiols, ethers and epoxides. Characteristics and reactivity. The carbonyl group: aldehydes and ketones, keto-enol tautomerism. Carboxylic acids, distinction between alcoholic and acidic hydroxyl. Amines, amides, and nitrogen-containing compounds. Sulfur-containing compounds. Alkyl and aryl halides.
• Organic Reactions: nucleophilic and electrophilic addition according to Lewis: hydration, hydrogenation, and halogenation. Aldol condensation. Nucleophilic substitution SN1 and SN2. Elimination, E1 and E2. Main reaction mechanisms: esterification, anhydride formation, and hemi-acetal, hemi-ketal, acetal, and ketal formation.
• Main Bonds in Biomolecules: ester and thioester bonds; anhydride bonds, amide (or peptide) bonds. Energy associated.
• Lipids: saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, with an even or odd number of C atoms. Overview of triglycerides, cholesterol and derivatives.
• Carbohydrates: monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Chirality and classification of D and L series. Diastereoisomers and epimers. Mutarotation and cyclic hemiacetalic furanose and pyranose structures. Alpha and beta anomerism. Maltose, cellobiose, and their polymers. Overview of monosaccharide redox.
• Amino Acids: structure of amino acids and their stereoisomerism. Buffering capacity of amino acids. Natural and essential amino acids. Formation and characteristics of the peptide bond, oligopeptides, and polypeptides.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

The teaching mode used is exclusively face-to-face.

Learning assessment procedures

The "Chemistry and Introductory Biochemistry" course consists of a written exam composed by two parts: the first one with exercises (stoichiometry, acid-base reactions, and redox reactions) and the second with open-ended questions covering the entire syllabus. Students who achieve a written score of 27/30 or higher will have the option to take an oral exam. The oral exam does not guarantee that the grade from the written part will be maintained.

Evaluation criteria

Students will need to demonstrate their understanding of the course topics and present them accurately and critically, using appropriate scientific language.
The examination will be validated with a minimum score of 18/30.

Exam language

italiano